Artificial limb.



PATENTED NGV. '7, 1905.

H. J. MORRIS. ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.3,19705.

UNITED STATES PATENT cierren ARTIFICIAL LINIB.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. '7, 1905.

Application filed February 3, 1905. Serial No. 244,031.

To all whom, t puny concern.-

Beitknown that I, HARRY J. MORRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wichita, in the county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Limbs; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in artificial limbs; and the object of the invention is to produce an apparatus of this character in which the knee-joint is without a knee-cord and actuated by means of a suspender, whereby the lower part ofthe limb is actuatedfrom the shoulders of a person, thereby holding the knee stiff while throwing the weight upon it and preventing the limb from giving away or shooting forward while the person is walking.

The invention consists, further, in various details of construction and in combinations and arrangements of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front viewshowing the application of the artificial limb with the parts in the position which they would assume while the person is standing or with the limb stretched. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus, showing the position the parts would assume while the person is seated with the knee bent. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the member for actuating the lower portion of the limb, and Fig. i is an enlarged detail view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 3 as applied to the limb.

Reference now being' had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the p0rtion ofthe limb above the knee,and B the shank portion of the limb. Said leg portion A has a transverse aperture C formed therein to receive the rod D, the ends of said rod being cut away at their inner ends at D to receive the bars E, which are held in place by means of the threaded screws F. Said leg portion A has slots H formed in its lower end and in which slots the fingers K are adapted to swing. Said fingers K have eyes at their inner ends,

which are fitted upon the rod D and held thereto by means of adjusting-screws N. The outer end of each finger carries a buttonhole, over which the lower ends of the straps Q are fastened. Said straps Q each carries a pulley M at its upper end, Linder which the suspenderstrap P passes, said strap being adapted to pass over the shoulders of the wearer and so arranged that as the shoulders are thrown back the suspender-strap may be raised and the shank portion of' the limb thrown forward.

The bars Fifshown in dotted outline in Fig. l) are fastened to opposite sides of the shank portion of the limb, as shown, and as the rod D, carrying said bars, rocks it will be observed that the shank portion of the limb will be thrown in one direction or the other.

In order to break the force of the shank portion of the limb as it is thrown forward and prevent clicking, I provide cushions T, which are seated in the upper ends of the slots H and against which the edges of the fingers K contact as the sections of the limb straighten up. 1

From the foregoing it will be observed that by the provision of an artificial limb embodying the features shown and described an eilicient means is afforded for holding the knee sti:1 while throwing the weight upon it and not allowing it to give away or shoot forward in walking.

While I have shown a particular form of apparatus illustrating my invention, it will be understood that I may vary the details of the same, if desired, without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- l. An artificial limb comprising a leg and shank portion, said leg portion having a rocking rod mounted in suitable bearings, fingers projecting from said rod, said leg portion having slots in which said fingers are guided, buffers positioned in said slots and against which said fingers are adapted to contact, bars carried by said rod and secured to said shank portion, and suspender-straps secured to said fingers, as set forth.

2. An artificial limb comprising a legand shank portion, said leg portion having a rocking rod mounted in suitable bearings, fingers projecting from said rod, said leg portion having slots in which said fingers are guided, buttons at the ends of said fingers, suspender- IOO IIO

straps secured to said buttons, and bars carportion` and suspender-straps secured to said IO ried by Said rod and fastened to the shank fingers, as set forth. portion of the leg, as set forth. 1n testimony whereof I hereunto affix my 3. An artificial limb comprising,` a leg and signature in presence of two Witnesses. 5 shank portion, a rocking rod ymounted in a transverse aperture in said leg-section, fingers HARRY J' MORRIS' adjustahly held upon said rod and mounted '1n Vitnesses: slots in said leg-section, bars fastened to the PERGY GLAZE,

ends of seid rod and secured to said shank T. A. SULLIVAN. 

